India Mandates Health Declaration for All International Arrivals Amid Ebola Emergency

India has made it mandatory for all international travellers arriving in the country to fill an online health self-declaration form before boarding. The measure, announced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday, is part of the newly launched Air Suvidha 2.0 platform designed to strengthen airport surveillance without physical contact.

The portal, available at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in, became operational on 25 June and applies to passengers flying into India from any country. Travellers are advised to complete the form within 24 hours of departure, ideally during web check-in, to expedite arrival procedures.

The self-declaration covers three key areas: a 21-day travel history, any known exposure to Ebola-affected regions, and the presence of symptoms such as fever, body aches, or bleeding. On arrival, passengers must present the downloaded form at the International Travel Health Desk or immigration counter. No physical paperwork is required at the airport.

The platform shares data in real time with airport health officers, immigration officials, and state health surveillance teams, enabling authorities to identify and respond to at-risk travellers without direct contact.

The decision follows the World Health Organization's declaration on 17 May 2026, classifying the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern—the highest alert level under international health law. The outbreak has been identified as Bundibugyo virus disease, a rare Ebola strain for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist.

Ebola spreads through close contact with bodily fluids and has caused over 15,000 deaths in Africa in the past five decades. The current outbreak was officially declared in northeastern DRC on 15 May, although health officials believe the virus had been circulating earlier.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, 'The outbreak is moving fast, and we are still playing catch-up. We need to stop the outbreak where it is, support countries that are responding today, and ensure that neighbouring countries are ready to detect and act quickly if cases appear.' He added, 'This is a serious outbreak and one we know how to stop—but we need to move fast and together.'

Countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, are considered high-risk for further spread. India's civil aviation authority and Delhi International Airport Limited emphasised that the portal was launched to protect both arriving passengers and airport staff while keeping the process contactless.

The WHO and the African CDC have jointly committed $518 million over the next six months to tackle the outbreak, focusing on surveillance, laboratory testing, and infection control.

Travellers are advised to fill the Air Suvidha 2.0 form within 24 hours of departure and carry the downloaded copy to the airport. Those who have recently travelled to or through DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan should expect additional screening on arrival.